Tom Holmoe is stepping away, leaving a vacuum at the top of the BYU athletics power structure for the first time in two decades.
It’d be hard to argue that Holmoe’s steady hand wasn’t the right fit for the Cougars over the last 20 years. He navigated independence purgatory, guided BYU into the Big 12, and made the two marquee programs consistent winners.
But for as much as Holmoe’s veteran approach was the correct call then, there’s an equal argument that BYU President Shane Reese should look for the opposite in his replacement. Look for the candidate out of the box, out of the typical BYU athletics mold.
It might sound counterintuitive when the last guy, who was the prototypical BYU man, did such a good job. But the issues facing the next AD won’t mirror anything like Holmoe saw.
No, the issues for the next leader will be revenue sharing, the House settlement, dealing with Name, Image and Likeness collectives and, inevitably, keeping BYU inside the Power Four.
Holmoe did a great job of getting BYU a seat at the table. The next person has to not only keep BYU there, but put the Cougars in a more powerful position at the dinner party.
And the big players at that table will be the programs that navigate the House settlement the best, the ones that creatively funnel the most money back into the football roster and position it for the next round of conference realignment.
BYU is thrilled to be in the Big 12 now. But it is wishful thinking to believe the Big 12 will look the same, or even be around, come 2032 when the next media rights contract is settled (it expires in 2031). That will be on the next AD’s desk.
So maybe BYU would benefit from bringing in a new set of eyes for these challenges, with a new background. Maybe a business background. Maybe a legal one. Even the Big 12 went down that route a few years ago when it took an entertainment executive from ROC Nation and put him in the top chair to lead the league. Brett Yormark’s hire worked so well that the Big 12 is still around and the Pac-12 as we knew it is dead.
I know BYU is a unique job and there are other qualifications that are needed. You need to stay in line with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' directive and not push too far. Maintaining those relationships is hard and requires institutional knowledge. It is why people like Brian Santiago, Holmoe’s right hand for the last eight years, will get a longer look.
But times have changed.
We’ll soon see if BYU’s thinking about the AD job has changed, too.
The big game
(Charlie Riedel | AP) BYU guard Dallin Hall (30) shoots over Kansas center Hunter Dickinson (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Lawrence, Kan. BYU won 76-68.
Not many teams go into Allen Fieldhouse and fly home happy. But the last time BYU played Kansas, Dallin Hall hit the dagger three to give Mark Pope’s crew a signature win.
And now the return game is here (Tuesday, 7 p.m. MST, ESPN).
BYU is hosting a reeling Jayhawks team that looks vulnerable. They are 8-6 in conference and coming off an underwhelming loss to Utah. It puts BYU in a weird position.
The Cougars have wanted this game, hosting Kansas in the Marriott Center, since they got into the league in 2021. But they are now expected to win. The Cougars were favored by three points as of Monday afternoon. Knocking off KU won’t be an upset anymore.
What does that mean to the man who beat Kansas?
“Prestigious school. It’s an excellent opportunity to put our best foot forward,” Hall said. “Obviously we went into their place last year and took it from them. They are hungry this year. We have a lot to prove. We are playing a great brand of basketball right now.”
BYU still needs two, maybe three, more conference wins to get into the NCAA Tournament field comfortably. Kansas would get the Cougars to nine Big 12 wins.
Fourth down
Why was now the right time for Tom Holmoe to step away? He explained his retirement decision in detail.
Here are a few names that BYU will look at to replace Holmoe.
Wakley address rumors 3.
Former BYU safety Crew Wakley addressed rumors that he gave away BYU game plans.
BYU is getting closer to locking up its spot in the field. Kevin Young’s squad beat Kansas State on Saturday, getting an eighth conference win. With two, certainly three, more wins, it should be in.
